Rea Vaya Phase 1C: motorists to win as well

Motorists will be well rewarded for their patience during the Phase 1C construction phase - the Katherine Street-Marlboro Drive artery in Sandton being a prime example.

Marlboro Drive eastbound is being widened to create a new fast lane. (Photo by Elias Nkabinde - CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LARGER VERSIONS)

It's not just public transport commuters who will reap the benefits of Rea Vaya's Phase 1C extension from central Joburg to Alexandra and Sandton.

Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to move more freely, with upgraded sidewalks and crossings along the new 16km trunk route, and a 5km dedicated pathway from Alex to Sandton that will include a brand new walking-cycling bridge over the M1 highway.

And motorists will find themselves well compensated for the inconvenience they put up with during the Phase 1C construction phase. Johannesburg's sceptical middle class will scoff at this claim, but there are two solid reasons for making it.

Firstly, an efficient public transport system is Joburg's best solution for reversing a build-up of traffic congestion that will otherwise make the city's main arteries a peak-hour nightmare for all commuters.

The M1 north onramp off Marlboro Drive has been widened to ease the flow of northbound vehicles exiting Sandton. (Photo by Elias Nkabinde - CLICK ON IMAGES FOR LARGER VERSIONS)

Secondly, the Phase 1C build has not been restricted to the laying down of dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure. It's been accompanied by extensive widening and resurfacing of roads, reconfiguring of key intersections, and upgrading of street signage.

Easing the flow on Katherine Street, Marlboro Drive

Katherine Street in Sandton is a prime example. Rea Vaya's Sandton trunk route will run from West Street near the Gautrain station precinct down Katherine Street northwards until, about 1.5km past Grayston Drive, it crosses the M1 highway on a brand new BRT bridge that is currently under construction.

Motorists will benefit from the resurfacing and widening of Katherine Street all the way to this point and beyond - and from more besides, including:

The replacement of the old, two-lane bridge over the Sandspruit River with a new bridge that is both higher - and therefore less prone to occasional flooding - and, at six lanes, three times wider.

The realignment of the intersection with Harris Street eastbound.

The establishment of three right-turning lanes onto Marlboro Drive.

The widening of Marlboro Drive to create an additional eastbound lane.

The widening of the M1 north onramp.

The combined effect will be to make life much easier for motorists using Katherine Street and Marlboro Drive to get home after a day's work in Sandton and surrounding suburbs.

Construction work well advanced

And construction work on all of the above is well advanced. In November-December last year, the western section of the new Sandspruit Bridge was completed, traffic was diverted onto this section, and the old bridge was demolished.

Construction of the eastern section of the new bridge commenced in January, with projected completion scheduled for September 2016.

At the same time, work on the Harris Street, Marlboro Drive and M1 north intersections, and on the widening of Marlboro Drive, is proceeding apace and will soon be nearing completion.

So Sandton motorists will be getting their Phase 1C rewards sooner than most. But of course, come a point in 2017, many Sandton motorists will have a new, public transport alternative to joining the homebound queues on the M1 south.

Rea services between Sandton, Alexandra and the CBD are on track to commence in 2017, followed by the introduction of feeder routes to extend the network to Rosebank, Randburg, Greenstone, Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge and Midrand.